Pencil-sharpener.



F. A.. BEGKETT.. PENCIL. SHARPENER. APPLIOATIQN FILED MAR. 4, 1910.

992,749. Patented May 23,1911.

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FREDERICK a. BECKETT, oE NEW YORK, N. Y.

PENCIL-SHARPENER.

Specification of 4Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1911;

Application led March 4, 1910. Serial No. 547,225.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known `that I, FREDERICK A. BECK- E'r'i, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at New York, county and State of New York, haveinvented certain new anduseful Itmproveinents in Pencil-Sharpeners, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to pencil sharpeners, andits chief object is toprovide a simple, inexpensive and withal thoroughly effective device bywhich a pencil can be sharpened rapidly and easily with the productionof a neat, accurate point without waste or breakageof the lead.

To these and other ends t-he invention coiisists in the novel. featuresof construction and combinationsof elements hereinafter described'.

vIn carrying out the invention in the preferred manner I provide asuitable receptacle orbox, preferably cubical in forni, having an opentop and provided near its upper edge with a groove or slot in which thepencil is moved in thesharpening operation.

Mounted within the box, adjacent to theV said slot, is an arc-shapedsupport carrying a thin, flexible, and preferably double-edged,

blade, which is held flexed in close conformity to the curvature of thesupport by suitable`means in the nature of a removable clamp. Belowt-lie blade supportis a removblade support, with the blade in position.`

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the flexible blade employed. Fig. (l is aperspective view of the clamping device for securing the flexible bladeto th*y arc-shaped supporter carrier.

The cubical box 10, open at the top as sliownyand preferably7 of castmetal, serves as a support for the other parts, and its base is flangedor extended as at 11, to perinitit to be screwed to a table or desk 12or secured by means of clamping devices, such for example as is shown at13. Vertical and lateral. extensions 13a may also be provided. vfor'securing the box to a 'wall or other upright support if desired. On theinside of opposite -sides of the box or support n ear the top thereofand Aadjacent to onevof the other sides are two lugs` or shelves 14, onwhich is mounted the arc-shaped blade-carrier v15. The latter isprovided with ears 16 at its ends, resting onthe lugs 14 and detachablysecured .thereto by means of thumbscrews 17.. In the forward edge of thebladecarrier isa notch 18 and inthe rear of the notch are two vapertures19, on opposite sides of the notch but at different distancestherefroin, as shown'. Below the blade-carrier, on

' the under or concave side of the same, is the flexible blade 20,provided with two cutting.

edges 2l, 2Q, and having two slightly elongated apertures 23,registering with the holes 19 in the blade-carrier; aiidbelow the bladeis a clamping member in the forin of aA spring plate 24 formed with anotch 25 in one edge and having a pairof threaded studs or pins 2Gextending upwardly through the registering holes 23 and 19 in the'bladeand the blade-carrier respectively. This clamp-- ing member is of less.curvature than the blade-Carrier, but being of spring metalA it may bedrawn, and with it the flexible blade 20, intoclose conformity to thecarrier by the thuinbnuts 27 on thestuds 2G, thereby`7 holding the bladefirmly in place. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the clamping member isslightly shorter and narrower than the curved portion of theblade-carrier, and the notch 25 is less deep than the i'iotch 18 in theformer, so that the .metal of the clamping member, extending forwardlyunder the notch 18, will afford adequate support to the fiexible blade:it-thatpoint. These notches expose the cutting edge of the blade, andtheir forward edges serve as guides for the pencil in the sharpeningoperation, as will be more apparent hereafter.

In the box-wall adjacent to the blade- 'carrier is an aperture 2S,through which the pencil, indicated atlf), is passed. and at the bottomof the aperture is an inclined troughshaped support 30, in which thepencil slides in the sharpeninfr operation.

The method ot using the|device will no7 be readily understood fromtheforegoing. The blade being properly clamped to the carrier the pencilis introduced through the aperture 28 into engagement with the blade asshown in Fig. l, and is then retracted, in Which movement t ie bladeremoves a chip or shaving from the encil. This operation is repeated,the pencil being slightly rotated between strokes, until a pointof thedesired length and tapens produced. The chips and sliavings drop into aremovable drawer 3l, which may be removed and emptied from time to timeas the debris accumulates.

It will be observed that the arc-shaped support gives the blade an archform. This is one of the most important features of the device, as itgives the flexible blade the necessary stiffness or rigidity andprevents springing or chattering of the blade as the pencil is drawnagainst its edge.l The curvature of the blade also rounds the pointnicely, so that a neatly rounded point can be v produced with ease. Thetrough 30 and-the blade 2O have such relative inclination as to give aneat taper to the point, and for this purpose the blade itselfisinclined slightly instead of giving all thefinclination to the troughedpencil support so as to afford plenty of room for thehand inmanipulating the pencil. This desired downward inclination of the bladeis most conveniently accomplished by properly inclining the tops of` thelugs 14 on which the blade-carrier rests.

The location of the blade-holding studs at' unequal distances from thesharpening notch is also an important feature, as it permits twoportions of each cutting edge to be used, as will be readily understood.

If desired the box l0 may be presided with a shallow drawer 32, belowthe chipdrawer or receptacle 31, for holding a supply of blades. The boxitself is thus a convenient support for the blade carrier and thereceptacles 31, 32.

As previously stated, the en'ibodiment herein illustrated is thepreferred form of. the invention, which may be emljiodied in other formswithout departure from its proper spirit and scope.

I claim: i

l. ln a pencil Sharpener, in combination,

a rigid arc-shaped blade-carrier, a thin llexi bleblade, and means forholding the blade curved .in close conformity with the carrier \vith"the` cutting edge of the bladc curved longitudinally,whereby to supportthe blade .and give thecntting edge thereofthe requisite stilfness,'saidblade-carrier exposing the cutting edge on the concave side ot' theblade for engagement with a'pencil applied to such concave side. l n i2. la a pendii sharpener, in combination,

vand clamping means for holding the blade curved in close conformity tothe carrier with the cutting edge of the blade curved longitudinallywhereby to support the blade and `give the cutting edge thereof therequisite stiffness, said blade- -arricr exposing the cutting edge onthe concave side of the blade for engagement with a pencil applied tosuch concave side.

, 4. In a pencil Sharpener, in combination, a rigid arc-shapedblade-carrier, a thin flexible blade, means for holding the blade curvedin close conformitywith the carrier with the cutting' edge of the bladecurved longitudinally whereby to support the blade and give the cuttingedge thereof the requisite stillness, and a support for the carrierprovided with a guide arranged to direct the pencil into operativeengagement with. the cuttingl edge of the blade on the concave sidethereof. i

5. In a pencil Sharpener, in combination, a rigid arc-shapedblade-carrier, a thin lexible blade on the concave side of the carrier,and a resilient clamping member provided with releasable mea-ns fordrawing the member and the blade into close conforn'iity with thecarrier whereby to support the blade and give the cutting edge thereofthe requisite stiilness. v i

(l. In a pencil Sharpener, in combination, a rigid'arc-shapedblade-carrier having a notch in its edge, a thin flexible blade mountedon the carrier and having its cutting edge exposed attbc said notch, andmeans for removably securing the blade to the carrier in closeconformity to the curvature thereof, said means being conslruclcdtopermit the shi fling olf the blade to expose dillerent portions of thesame cutting edge at the said notch.

7. ln a pencil sharpener, in combination, av rigidarc-shaped'blade-carrier having a notch in its edge and provi-ded withapertures spaced laterally from said notch at unequal distancestherefrom, a thin flexible blade having apertures in register with thosein'v the carrier, and a removable clamping member having binding meansextending through said registered apertures to bind the blade in ,closeconformity to the curvature of the carrier. y

8. In a pencil sharpcnelyin combination, a ,rigid arc-shapedblade-carrier' having a notch in-its edge, a thin flexible blademountbut of less depth than the notch in the bladeedf-.on .fthe carrierand haying its cutting carrier. 10

` l:edge exposed at' saidnotch, and a clamping In testimony whereof I'ax my signature late for binding the blade in close conin the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

5 ormity with the carrier whereby to support FREDERICK A. BECKETT.

' `thelblade and gi-ve the cuttin edge thereof Witnesses:

fthe 'requisite stillness, said clamping'plete S. S. DUNHAM,

h aying `in its edge a notch registering with M. LAWSON Dm.

